Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Azienda Agricola Cieck Erbaluce di Caluso (2007) Piemonte

A crisp Italian white wine made from an unusual grape, the Erbaluce. Produced by Azienda Agricola Cieck, a winery founded in 1985 by Lodovico Bardesono and Remo Falconieri; both descendants of vine growers and winemakers who cultivate 16 hectares of vineyard on the hills of Canavese (north-west Piemonte). Cieck specializes in growing indigenous Piemontese grapes varieties: the Erbaluce, Barbera, Nebbiolo and Freisa. As a further nod to the unusual, the Erbaluce vines are grown on "pergola canavesana", a peculiar grape training system. The 2007 Erbaluce di Caluso is 100% Erbaluce. The bunches of grapes are pressed whole with the stems, skin and seeds removed immediately afterward. The must ferments in stainless steel tanks equipped with a temperature control system, all which help in retaining the delicate fruity characteristics of the wine. The wine is a sparkling straw yellow color, with a light apple/pear nose. The wines vibrant acidity is its selling point for me. Synthetic cork. 12.5% alcohol content.